System and Method for Retrieving and Storing Industrial Data

Abstract

The invention provides a system and method for retrieving and storing industrial data, the system comprising a data retriever that includes a data retrieval manager and one or more watchers for monitoring data associated with one or more industrial devices, wherein if the data associated with the one or more industrial devices is new or modified, the one or more watchers notifies the data retrieval manager thereof and the data retrieval manager uploads the new or modified data. The system further includes a database manager for receiving the new or modified data in a first form from the data retrieval manager and for storing the new or modified data in a structural data form in one or more databases.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]Not ApplicableSTATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT[0002]Not ApplicableFIELD OF THE INVENTION[0003]The present invention relates to a system and method for retrieving various types and forms of industrial data, and storing the data in a structural data form in one or more databases, wherein the structural data form is suitable for a structural or semantic search.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0004]Industrial automation or control systems include controllers to control machinery in a manufacturing process, as well as human machine interfaces (HMI) to allow operators to interact with the controller or other devices in the system. A controller is a special purpose computer that runs a stored control program in a specific programming language in real-time. The controller examines a series of inputs, typically from sensors, reflecting the status of a controlled machine or process and, based on the logic of the control pr...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013]In at least one additional embodiment, the present invention relates to an industrial automation system capable of retrieving and storing industrial data. The system includes a plurality of industrial controllers, at least one human-machine interface (HMI) device, a data retriever in communication with the industrial controllers and the HMI device, and a database manager. The data retriever includes a data retrieval manager and one or more watchers for monitoring data associated with at least one of the industrial controllers and the HMI device. Further, the data retrieval manager is in communication with at least one of a file system, an event logger, a real-time data logger, and a device network, and if the monitored data is new or modified, the one or more watchers notifies the data retrieval manager thereof and the data retrieval manager uploads the new or modified data. Additionally, the database manager is for receiving the new or modified data in a first form from the data retrieval manager, for converting the new or modified data in the first form to new or modified data in a structural data form, and for storing the new or modified data in the structural data form in one or more databases, wherein the structural data form is suitable for a structural search query. It should further be noted that other embodiments, aspects, features, objectives and advantages of the present invention will be understood and appreciated upon a full reading of the detailed description and the claims that follow.

Problems solved by technology

Currently, searching in industrial data is problematic and generally limited by the user interface and ways of search provided by software applications.

Further, once a designer has accessed a particular device or file storage point, the data stored therein can be cumbersome to search as the various industrial devices may utilize different data formats for different types of devices, requiring the designer to be familiar with the specific data format and search methodology.

Similarly, when servicing these industrial devices, a technician will often have to be familiar with many interrelated data variables in order to perform an effective search to uncover problems, as a standard search may not reveal all of the variables.

Furthermore, various fault events that occur on a particular device may be cumbersome to resolve, as a technician will typically have to search all interrelated devices for specific points of data that are related to that fault event.

Thus, accessing the devices themselves in order to acquire data can be cumbersome, inefficient and impractical.

Furthermore, a service technician or system designer is commonly situated at a particular industrial facility and may be limited to accessing only the devices and data available at that particular facility.

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